View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerPitcher Mitch Talbot, above, has secured a spot in the Tribe's starting rotation, leaving just one more open spot for manager Manny Acta to fill.

Updated at 12:46 a.m.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians' pitching staff is coming into focus.

After manager Manny Acta named Mitch Talbot his fourth starter following Friday's 5-4 Cactus League victory over Colorado, the rotation looks like this: Jake Westbrook, Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson and Talbot. The last spot will be filled by David Huff or Carlos Carrasco.

View full sizeChuck Crow / PDCarlos Carrasco, above, is competing with David Huff for the last spot in the starting rotation.Acta said the rotation will line up with Westbrook, Carmona and Masterson in the first three spots. He said it hasn't been decided in what order Talbot and the fifth starter will pitch.

In announcing his decision about Talbot, Acta said left-hander Aaron Laffey would be going to the bullpen. Laffey, Talbot and Huff have been competing for the last two rotation spots this spring. Carrasco joined the group after throwing nine consecutive scoreless innings in his past two appearances.

The bullpen still has two vacancies.

The five relievers who will break camp April 3 are Chris Perez, Rafael Perez, Tony Sipp, Joe Smith and Laffey. The leading candidates to fill out the pen are Jensen Lewis, Jamey Wright and Saul Rivera. Lewis is on the 40-man roster, but Wright and Rivera are spring training invitees on minor-league deals.

A space would have to be created on the 40-man roster for Wright and Rivera. If Wright makes the club out of camp, he will earn $900,000. Rivera would make $500,000.

The fact Talbot pitched a minor-league game against the White Sox's Class AAA team Thursday was a good indication of his status. Huff and Laffey, meanwhile, were going head-to-head against the Mariners at Goodyear Ballpark on Thursday.

"Mitch came to camp and impressed everybody," said Acta. "He threw strikes. He showed the ability to, maybe, go through the lineup three times. He's pitched a ton of innings in Triple-A."

View full sizeChuck Crow / PDAaron Laffey will begin the season in the bullpen.The Indians traded Kelly Shoppach to Tampa Bay in December for Talbot. He didn't pitch must last year because of right shoulder and right elbow problems, but impressed the Indians in the Arizona Fall League.

Talbot, who has made two relief appearances in his career, is out of options. The Indians did not want to lose him and they didn't want to put him in the bullpen.

Laffey started and relieved for the Indians last year. He went 1-1 with a save and a 3.65 ERA in six relief appearances. In his last relief appearance May 22, he strained his right oblique muscle and went on the disabled list.

He rejoined the Indians as a starter.

"Laffey didn't lose the job, but with Kerry Wood being hurt we felt putting him in the bullpen was best for our team," said Acta. "With Aaron having pitched out of the bullpen like he has in the past, it's a plus for our bullpen.

"Aaron took it well. He understood that the club comes first. The main thing is he wants to pitch. They're all going to pitch. It's pretty clear we don't have five Bob Fellers in our rotation right now. Everybody is the bullpen is going to get to pitch."

Talbot is 1-0 with a 0.79 ERA

(one earned run, 111/3 innings) this spring. Those stats do not include Thursday's minor-league game.

Huff is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA (10 earned runs, 16 innings) in five appearances. Laffey is 1-1 with a 3.07 ERA (five earned runs, 14 innings) and one save in five appearances. Carrasco is 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA (three earned runs, 12 innings) in three appearances.

Wood, the Indians' closer, will open the season on the disabled list with a strained right lat.

Huff starts Monday against the Dodgers, while Carrasco starts Sunday against the Angels.

Finally: Carmona faces the Diamondbacks today at Goodyear Ballpark. WTAM AM/1100 will carry the game at 4:05 p.m.

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